The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) is committed to the
implementation of low carbon legislation in the built environment, with
the aim that the construction of all new homes moves towards zero carbon
as soon as possible. In order to meet the challenge of delivering low
carbon dwellings, issues that are specific to rural areas are often of a
lesser priority than issues specific to urban areas; but the issues
facing rural areas need to be considered. In comparison to urban areas,
these issues include fewer design and construction teams for developers;
a shortage of specialist skills and narrow supply chains and due to
these issues more costly design and development. These issues are
especially true for the design and construction of low carbon,
ecological and affordable buildings.

The Ecological Built Environment Research and Enterprise (EBERE)
group at Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC) is working in
collaboration with Pembrokeshire Housing Association (PHA), a Registered
Social Landlord, based in rural Pembrokeshire; to develop a best
practice model to investigate the issues outlined above and consider how
they can be overcome in order that developers can deliver low carbon,
ecological, affordable, dwellings in rural counties of Wales. The best
practice model will explore how different procurement routes and
architectural and construction processes can be adopted to achieve WAG
targets in rural areas of Wales. It will also consider how architects
and design teams have responded to the challenges of building low
carbon; rural dwellings and how effectively building users inhabit
current ecological dwellings.